Top 5 Ways Retinol Can Improve Your Skin

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Sunday, October 23, 2011

Top 5 Ways Retinol Can Improve Your Skin

by Skincare-news.com team

Does your skin need a boost? Does it suffer from fine lines and wrinkles? Retinol formulas can help! Here’s why retinol is an effective age-reducer, leading to more youthful, healthier skin. Plus, learn about the latest and greatest retinol formulas.

1. Retinol rejuvenates the skin. This vitamin A derivative helps skin produce collagen, a natural component of the dermis that gives skin its youthful, full appearance. According to a 2007 study, published in The Archives of Dermatology, 36 participants age 80 and older applied a formula with 0.4 percent retinol to one arm up to three times a week. After 24 weeks, these participants had dramatic improvements in their skin that were “clearly visible to the naked eye,” reports dermatologist Leslie Baumann, M.D., on her Yahoo! blog, The Skin Guru. Also, “skin biopsies revealed that that arm had more of the building blocks that make skin smooth and resilient than the untreated arm,” Leesa Suzman writes about the study in Good Housekeeping.
2. Retinol gives skin an overall healthier appearance. Retinol can help reduce discoloration, fine lines, wrinkles and skin texture. Plus, it can improve skin tone and color for generally younger-looking, even skin.
3. Retinol stimulates cell turnover. Exfoliating is essential for youthful-looking, healthy skin. By removing dead skin cells, new, healthier cells are able to come through. Your complexion also looks smoother and products are able to sink deep into the skin. This way, your skin can effectively absorb potent ingredients. With a pile of dead skin cells on your face, products have a tough time penetrating this top layer and can’t work.
4. Retinol addresses acne. While retinol works to reduce telltale signs of aging, it also treats “acne-ridden skin,” dermatologist Heidi A. Waldorf. M.D., tells Allure. Adult acne is common, affecting 50 percent of women. Dealing with both aging and acenic skin can be particularly distressing. Fortunately, because of retinol’s exfoliating benefits, it can help treat acne. That’s because dead skin cells can clog pores and contribute to acne. By getting rid of dead skin cells, retinol improves and prevents breakouts.
5. Retinol is less irritating than retinoids. Also a vitamin A derivative, retinoids are only available by prescription from your dermatologist. Though they’re more potent than their over-the-counter counterparts, retinoids are also more irritating to the skin with potential side effects like peeling and redness. Retinol is gentler because it gradually converts to retinoic acid, which is the active ingredient in prescription treatments. Some people simply can’t tolerate retinoids. So retinol is ideal for those individuals along with anyone with sensitive or easily irritated skin and those trying retinoids for the first time. Plus, retinol can pave the way to retinoids, because it helps your skin get used to retinoic acid.